The Scots: A Genetic Journey

So, given, I am of Scottish descent. I'm not sure why you'd read this book if you weren't, but full disclosure is probably important as my background is significant to this short review. The Author wove genetic details into the sweep of Scottish history. The reference to genetic types was sometimes difficult to follow, but the Author did well using common nametags for some of the more predominant strains. There is much which cannot be known yet, but what the Author assembles is useful. It would be welcome to have either an appendix which lists the various genetic markers mentioned, or - even better - an online tool to be able to access these tags in one's private studies. Still, if you're interested in the subject matter, you should not be disappointed by this book.

This is a detailed history of Scotland and the those who make up the Scottish people. The author's delve into ancient texts for much of their information to explain the origins of certain genetic markers. The study focuses more o Y DNA and to a lesser extent mtDNA.

somewhat padded, best material at beginning. Many assumptions of truths are made that are just guesses on the author's part, a very bad habit which puts the factual content in the book into question. Author has annoying habit of starting a new thread of thought just cold as the next paragrapah which is disorienting. He will eventually tie the two subjects together but you just time and space travel in blink of an eye. A demarkation within chapters would solve this.It helps to currently be British, Irish, Scottish, and know the country side well, or have a map (non provided, an oversight in my opinion.)I purhased to understand my Geno 2.0 results which have me at half "Mediteranian" which covers quite an area and I wanted to know how that related to the 90% Scott plus German back to the 1800's related to that. It was the route some tribes and and loners took along up the Iberian peninsula and on northwards to end up in Scotland. I would guess they did not make that trip in one long go, but over generations.The author attempts to tie certain architecture, farming methods, languages, customs, signs of spiritual beliefs to a specific gene. I find this weird as it is not IN the gene, but stuff people learn from the people who raised them and those around them. But it is a way to help TRACK the gene across the world. But it is part of his main story that DNA can help track movement of people especially if we can tie it to certain traditions in building, etc etc. I don't know but what the same gene went elsewhere and didn't take those farming methods etc with them.The ice ages are covered in very nice fashion for a novice, like me.I got confused at the p-Celtic and q- Celtic and am now skimming. (36%)My point of entry was as an amateur genealogy sleuth and general knowlege that most Westerners have that we all came out of Africa and changed in different ways over the thousands upon thousands of years. I have some knowlege of the movements of origins and movement of polynesians.It would be hard to imagine a book that could explain world wide phenomena in terms of results of current inabitants of one area of the world today. What branches to follow. This group broke from that group and went to somewhere new where there were or were not people with home they assimilated or people they conquered. Then moved on again, genetically intact, to another place. It's what I 'knew' before I read this book and about all I know now.Recommended reading lists please.This tracking (to date due to limits of current science) is only through the Y DNA. Little known about mitochondrial (female) DNA but some strains are mentioned.What you may be looking for, if you have done a full Y test is the genes that make you Scott. Given the Scots developed over millenia, there are numerous genetic sources so how they get a fuller picture of "how Scot are you?). Yet, some indicators are you may be looking for are M284, M26, and M423. Mitochondrial U5 and U8 are mentioned.

I eagerly awaited my copy of this book. Written by a distinguished author, it seemed to cover all the bases for my interest in "the ancient story of Scotland", from history to genetics to culture. When my copy arrived, I found it packed with numerous interesting and detailed facts to read and to guide my research. There was only one problem: virtually none of the claims in The Scots, A Genetic Journey are linked to or supported by specific, clearly indicated references. True, there is a brief Bibliography at the end of the book, but there is essentially no practical way to use these general references (some of which are quite dated) to support each of the numerous very specific statements packed into every page. Also, while the source of photographs is indicated, the drawn figures (e.g., frequency of Y chromosome groups across the British Isles, p. 93) are unreferenced. (Whose work is the basis for this figure - the author? a colleague? a journal paper? a scientific database? - we aren't told and can't easily check the source for the information presented.) While many scientific publications intended for a general audience do not have copious, line-by-line references to the primary literature to backup every statement, these popular audience books generally do cite specific sources for major claims, further reading, and new developments such as those promised to be revealed by this book ("remarkable conclusions about our origins and identity"). Again, for me anyway, one of the most important aspect of genealogical searches is that they must be reliable - if I suspect that my great-grandfather immigrated from Scotland to New York on such and such a date, I want to be sure of that supposition on the basis of strong corroborating evidence and documentation, lest my family tree contain mistakes and errors. The same goes for genetic information, e.g., as presented on p. 87: "A British variant on he European marker M269, known as S145, could be said to be the most emphatic signal of Celtic language speakers of the British Isles." Great - this finding is interesting and important. But where may I find the exact study that led to this conclusion (a few lines down " a recent large sample of Welsh men..."? - whose large study? which Welsh men? How was the study performed? How can I read more about it and update its status in the 2022 scientific literature?)? While some readers may find this book of interest, its lack of references makes the book completely useless for me; since I cannot verify the accuracy and basis for many of the claims presented in this book, I cannot rely on them.

This is my 1st excursion into history using genetics as the common linkages. There are many testable statements made, but I am uninformed about the rational processes needed to prove or disprove. Genetics & Archeology & Paleontology seem to be tools useful to go back in time before recorded history.

Not quite finished this book yet, but I can honestly say I am finding it fascinating. It is not a dry boring read, not too scientific, full of information. The historical facts are there too, right from the Ice Ages, really well worth a read.

You do need to know something about genetic genealogy before you start reading this book - otherwise you'd get bogged down with the "science". Haven't finished it yet - determined to - but a bit clunky. Could have done with editing...

An excellent book discussing the origins of the people of Scotland in a clear and well-exampled way. Moffat is a very good and engaging writer: never a dull moment picking his way through a complex genetic journey.

I’ve bought five copies of the books - myself and all recipients have been captivated by the content - well done Alistair

This is the first book I have read on Scottish history from the perspective of DNA origins. It was very interesting. It would have been good go see more on the genetic origins of some of the oldest Scottish families. I am sure as DNA science evolves we will learn much more.